‘Pipe bomb’ found to be hoax 07-16-05

MEDIA RELEASE

A military ordnance disposal team called in from Oahu has determined that what was thought to have been a pipe bomb discovered at a Keauhou construction site was a hoax.

Responding to 2:30 p.m. call Friday (July 15, 2005), Kona patrol officers determined that workers had discovered the device about 11:30 a.m. at the Na Hale o Keauhou construction site. The device appeared to be a pipe bomb measuring 9 to 12 inches long and one half to three quarters of an inch in diameter and had what appeared to be a fuse inserted.

Police called in a military team from Oahu. The team arrived Saturday morning, and about 8:30 a.m., it determined that the device was not an explosive.

To ensure the public’s safety, police officers closed off a portion of Alii Drive for about 20 minutes while the disposal team examined the device.

Police said no one was injured in the incident and they received no threats or warnings about a bomb at the construction site.

Anyone with information about the incident or who knows who is responsible for the hoax is asked to call the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.